Pellets or Crumbles

[FrostRanger]

I also feed pellets 'cause they produce less waste. I am feeding kalmbach flock raiser rn but once everyone is laying they'll get nutrena naturewise 21% layer feed

 

[talkinboutchickens]

For baby chicks I don't really worry about the brand, because their only goal is to grow. I don't need to get all "technical" about the feed because for baby chicks it's kinda all the same (except for medicated feed.)
But for layer hens I do worry about what brand/type I get, because the egg quality does partially depend on the feed.
If that makes sense

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

We had been using 20%chick starter for our girls and still do but we get it from our local mill in bags 500# 10 bags and it sits in our second living room lol as we haven't figured out storage yet over a year later haha

Eta crumbles as we can't get pellets but they love scratching it and eat everything

 

[RoyalChick]

I use Kalmbach as well. I go for the 20% Feather fixer formula with oyster shell (and their own eggshells) on the side for the calcium.
I prefer pellets because I think there is less waste. I leave pellets in the feeders 24x7 and then as a special treat I give it to them wetted down into a mash. They love it.
It also smells really great - makes me want to try it! I think it has oregano in it.

 

[Rock17]

I use Kalmbach as well. I go for the 20% Feather fixer formula with oyster shell (and their own eggshells) on the side for the calcium.
I prefer pellets because I think there is less waste. I leave pellets in the feeders 24x7 and then as a special treat I give it to them wetted down into a mash. They love it.
It also smells really great - makes me want to try it! I think it has oregano in it.

You reminded me. I also sprinkle dried herbs (oregano, dried deadnettles, thyme, etc.)
In layers pellets to add extra nutrients, deter rats and because my chickens seem to like it with the herbs.

 

[K0k0shka]

Chickens prefer crumble because it's easier to swallow. I have a zero waste feeder, so being that waste is not an issue for me, I have no strong preference, so I go with the chickens' preference and only use crumble. I feed the whole flock Purina Flock Raiser, which is 20% protein and thus better than layer feeds, which seem to be too low (they go for the bare minimum as the best bang for your buck, not what's optimal). And I always have calcium on the side (crushed eggshell). At any one time I have chickens in my flock who don't lay (too young, too old, sick, molting, etc.) so I don't like layer feeds, as they have the extra calcium added in which my non-laying birds don't need. If I have chicks with the flock, I switch everybody to medicated chick starter for the first few weeks (or until they finish the bag), then back to flock raiser. Purina is a reliable brand that gets the job done. It's affordable and easy to find. I don't care about organic so that's not a factor for me. My chickens are healthy with lush, shiny feathers, they lay well and seem happy, so that's good enough for me.

 

[AnyaTotoro]

So our chickens are being delayed on delivery. I was hoping to be up and going by now. However, going down the rabbit hole again. I know K.I.S.S. So here are my questions 1- Pellets or crumble after the chick stage, if you choose one over the other why? So many different brands to choose from with very mixed reviews. 2- Which brand has been PROVEN for best nutrients, egg production and quality on personal experience without breaking the bank. Any advise or guidance would be greatly appreciate. Thank you in advance.

I think it’s your chickens preference. I find my girls prefer pellet, especially as crumble includes a lot of powder and extra small specks that my girls won’t eat and is therefore waste. And pellet can always be broken smaller if needed. But again it depends on what your chickens seem more interested in.

 

[AnyaTotoro]

You reminded me. I also sprinkle dried herbs (oregano, dried deadnettles, thyme, etc.)
In layers pellets to add extra nutrients, deter rats and because my chickens seem to like it with the herbs.

I shake cayenne pepper powder on our food to keep rats and such away from food since chickens don’t have a spicy taste receptors

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Great advice from @Ridgerunner on page1. When I used a gravity feeder, pellet worked best. Crumble powder could cake up with my humidity, clog the feeder. Pellet is also (generally) lower waste.

I usually have chicks under foot, so crumble is my preference. I control waste by getting it wet again, serve it in an outmeal like consistency in a pvc gutter. Cheap, easy to clean. When I can only get pellet, and have chicks who can't eat it? Yep, get it wet and serve as a mash...

On Nutrition, go straight to the nutrition label, forget the brand and the product name. If you have questions about what you are reading there, what you want to read there, or why something is (or isn't) on the ingredient list, we can help with that too.

Welcome to BYC!

 

[Nanook33]

Thank you. I was looking at staying with the 18% and start off with crumble chick feed followed up with crumble layer until about a year old then transition to pellets after 1 year of age. Adding scratch when they are about 5 months old.

That is what we did---chick crumble then layer crumble. They prefer crumble to pellets. (We DID offer the pellets to them) We now mix 1 1/2 large cans of crumble with 1/2 large can scratch for their feed trough. We also sprinkle a small can of bird seed on the ground for them to scratch around & eat. Also a friend drops off the "outsides" of lettuce, kale, etc. They love their greens. We have 7 girls & a nice rooster.